Reflections of Players Actions from Open to Group / Solo Request

[Nomadski]

This is not a thread to discuss the merits of the 3 main modes, so please leave that argument in the other umpteen threads.

It's a point I made early in the powerplay thread, that I thought would be worth making in its own thread, so as not to get missed as that thread develops, it got a couple of positive remarks afterwards so I don't think I'm alone in hoping for this...

So with the new update we are going to see much more direct activity within systems between factions, with systems changing hands, economic events happening etc etc

As an Open player, this is fine, we can clearly see almost all that is happening in front of us with the actions of the other players. In Solo and Group mode however this may not be as obvious, with the lack of visible activity still leading to the same substantial changes in system ownership, or economic changes.

So what I would hope to happen, or if not maybe FD can implement this, is for the NPCs to take the place of players with a direct correlation to what is happening in the Open universe.

If players are actively attacking a system, let NPC activity reflect this and be a hive of aggression on the same factions. Whatever is happening in the Open universe, let the other modes reflect this with NPC activity.

Essentially what I'm asking for is players in modes other than Open be able to see the cause of traumatic events in the universe, and not just the effect.

 

[willowfan]

This is assuming that open is where the "real" game is. This is just not the case, solo and groups are equally valid.

Should there be an increase in npc activity in open to show what is really happening in all the solo players' games?

 

[Roybe]

Although I agree with the ideal behind this, I'm pretty sure the term 'griefing' will be bandied about. A lot of private players would see the intrusion of danger from Open as an improper disruption of their game mode. I hope I am wrong. As I said, it would definitely make sense.

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This is assuming that open is where the "real" game is. This is just not the case, solo and groups are equally valid.

Should there be an increase in npc activity in open to show what is really happening in all the solo players' games?

I support this idea also. Makes sense. Why not? NPC's are nothing to worry about in Open.

 

[Nomadski]

This is assuming that open is where the "real" game is. This is just not the case, solo and groups are equally valid.

Should there be an increase in npc activity in open to show what is really happening in all the solo players' games?

As I said, this is not the thread for that kind of discussion.

If you have read about Powerplay then you know it is about player actions in particular dictating major changes and relationships within systems. This has drawbacks in the modes outside of Open as activity will not be as obvious. This is just a request for the cause of what is happening to be made obvious to Group or Solo players rather than them just feeling the effect at the end.

 

[Lupis]

So OP you are saying that solo and group should get an increase to NPC in response to the event?

 

[Dandare71]

Too much p2p lag and stuttering in open, was ok before wings.

 

[Nomadski]

So OP you are saying that solo and group should get an increase to NPC in response to the event?

I'm saying if System A has some political shenanigans going on and Party A is attacking Party B all over the place, there should clearly be a 2 way NPC battle royale going on in System A in group and Solo mode. A sudden shift in power in a system where you could travel through without any sense of anything happening in it doesn't make much sense.

 

[willowfan]

As I said, this is not the thread for that kind of discussion.

If you have read about Powerplay then you know it is about player actions in particular dictating major changes and relationships within systems. This has drawbacks in the modes outside of Open as activity will not be as obvious. This is just a request for the cause of what is happening to be made obvious to Group or Solo players rather than them just feeling the effect at the end.

But the cause of what is happening in open might very well be because of the actions of those in solo or group. You are starting from the assumption that actions in open are the main driver of events which may not in actuality be the case.

 

[Sysmon]

So what I would hope to happen, or if not maybe FD can implement this, is for the NPCs to take the place of players with a direct correlation to what is happening in the Open universe.

If players are actively attacking a system, let NPC activity reflect this and be a hive of aggression on the same factions. Whatever is happening in the Open universe, let the other modes reflect this with NPC activity.

Essentially what I'm asking for is players in modes other than Open be able to see the cause of traumatic events in the universe, and not just the effect.

Might be difficult, as the actions of those NPCs will not be anything we in Open can influence - it has already happened in Group/Solo (and vice versa for our escapades influencing Solo/Groups). If it was possible to spawn NPCs representing players in other phases, there would be situations where we managed to destroy the NPCs while the players they represent may have succeeded in their goals in the other phases - contrasting results.

Maybe it would work by having the results of the Solo/Group actions happen 'elsewhere' and just be reported as results from other parts of the battlefront (for example).

S

 

[Kole]

I just created a thread on a similar topic having completely missed this one:

I've spent some time thinking about the powerplay announcement and took a turn at some theorycrafting:

What do people think of a system that tracks the number of players in a system on a per faction basis across all game modes (open, group and solo) and changes the game content to reflect the faction mix?

I'm thinking of a system that logs and queries the number of players in a given time period, say an hour, their faction breakdown, their ships, and their rankings then generates npc spawns and bulletin missions procedurally.

An example would be players of Faction A get together and decide to venture into a neighboring system of Faction B lets say to swing ownership of the neighboring system to Faction A. After an hour or two of attacking Faction B sys authority ships the system could start generating signal sources where Faction A and Faction B npcs are fighting it out. Faction B NPCs would become greater in number and more aggresive to Faction A players. Faction B station bulletin boards would start to show missions requesting players attack Faction A ships. A short blurb could go out on Galnet to players in a 20ly range (put a notification right in the comms panel). This would occur across all game modes.

I like the idea of people across all game modes influencing the game world for everyone and the idea of the system responding to players rather than players responding to cues from the game.

What are your opinions and ideas to flesh this out (or shoot it down)?

 

[damj256]

I don't think its even a question of modes. I think you should be asking 'will the NPCs in the game react to the political and economic powerplays that are going on in the environment?'

I would hope that FD have thought of this and the answer would be yes, it would make sense after all. What mode you are in should not have a bearing on this in any way.

 

[atak2]

I have no problems with NPCs representing open players appearing in solo or NPCs representing solo players appearing in open.

I would say the player representing NPCs would have to be weighted towards a higher toughness (with the occasional weak one) than regular NPCs to better represent the added threat of a player confrontation.

 

[willowfan]

I like your idea because it takes into account the actions of all players across all modes.

 

[Nomadski]

But the cause of what is happening in open might very well be because of the actions of those in solo or group. You are starting from the assumption that actions in open are the main driver of events which may not in actuality be the case.

They probably will be. Powerplay is going to actively focus the minds of the PVP centric crowd, it gives them a reason to kill, beyond senseless killing, with a goal, a mission etc. No doubt Solo and Group Players will also be contributing, but I don't think for a second lone wolfs sporadically playing the politics, or even private groups doing the same will have anywhere near the same effect as those in open hunting enemy faction players, playing essentially community goals en masse wherever the battleground takes them.

And regardless, my point still stands even if Solos and Groupies (of which I am one - Mobius) are contributing significantly, the political tug of war should be visible across ALL modes, and with out of Open modes, that can only be filled in by NPCs.

 

[damj256]

I really doubt that FD have not thought about this. Where things are happening there will be an increase in NPC activity. It just seems logical to me. Still definitely not about modes though

 

[Roybe]

My problem for the solo crowd is this:

During the War for Lugh, our traffic reports broke 10,000 players for more than 5 days. HOW do you remain fair to the Solo crowd with 2000+ players ranging through a system?

 

[Deleted member 38366]

-- Deleted --

 

[CMDR Badgered]

This is not a thread to discuss the merits of the 3 main modes, so please leave that argument in the other umpteen threads.

It's a point I made early in the powerplay thread, that I thought would be worth making in its own thread, so as not to get missed as that thread develops, it got a couple of positive remarks afterwards so I don't think I'm alone in hoping for this...

So with the new update we are going to see much more direct activity within systems between factions, with systems changing hands, economic events happening etc etc

As an Open player, this is fine, we can clearly see almost all that is happening in front of us with the actions of the other players. In Solo and Group mode however this may not be as obvious, with the lack of visible activity still leading to the same substantial changes in system ownership, or economic changes.

So what I would hope to happen, or if not maybe FD can implement this, is for the NPCs to take the place of players with a direct correlation to what is happening in the Open universe.

If players are actively attacking a system, let NPC activity reflect this and be a hive of aggression on the same factions. Whatever is happening in the Open universe, let the other modes reflect this with NPC activity.

Essentially what I'm asking for is players in modes other than Open be able to see the cause of traumatic events in the universe, and not just the effect.

I don't play Solo/Group, but I think this is a fantastic idea! The Solo/Group should get to experience the same level of danger that players on Open will be encountering.

 

[Roybe]

They probably will be. Powerplay is going to actively focus the minds of the PVP centric crowd, it gives them a reason to kill, beyond senseless killing, with a goal, a mission etc. No doubt Solo and Group Players will also be contributing, but I don't think for a second lone wolfs sporadically playing the politics, or even private groups doing the same will have anywhere near the same effect as those in open hunting enemy faction players, playing essentially community goals en masse wherever the battleground takes them.

And regardless, my point still stands even if Solos and Groupies (of which I am one - Mobius) are contributing significantly, the political tug of war should be visible across ALL modes, and with out of Open modes, that can only be filled in by NPCs.

If Faction ID is available, it will also protect a lot of people wearing the correct flag! Others fighting for the other side would expect to fight! People not interested will not be in the area, or play in Private modes. There would be peace in the forums at last! <sigh> Ok..silly fantasy over! ;P

 

[Herik]

This is assuming that open is where the "real" game is. This is just not the case, solo and groups are equally valid.

Should there be an increase in npc activity in open to show what is really happening in all the solo players' games?

What you just said is totally erroneous. Your suggesting NPC activity in Open should (increase) to show you what is happening in Solo? ...faulty reasoning.